LeBron James made his much-anticipated return to the Los Angeles Lakers’ lineup on Sunday, but it was not enough to secure a victory against the Chicago Bulls, who won 118-108. While some Lakers fans were thrilled to have their superstar back on the court, others worry about how this might affect the performance of Austin Reaves, who has been on a hot streak for the team.
According to former NBA player turned analyst Antonio Davis, James’ return could potentially hurt Reaves’ performance. Davis believes that James casts a “huge shadow,” and with the four-time NBA champion back in the picture, Reaves may see a decrease in his ball-handling responsibilities, which could affect his performance on the court. Reaves has been flourishing as a ball-handler in James’ absence, and Davis thinks that his hot streak could come to an end now that James is back.
Despite Davis’ concerns, Reaves still got the nod to start on Sunday and played 37 minutes, but was limited to 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Meanwhile, James played 30 minutes off the bench. It is expected that James will return to the starting lineup soon, which could mean a move back to the bench for Reaves.
However, Lakers fans can trust coach Darvin Ham to make the best decisions for the team. Ham has already recognized how integral Reaves is to the Lakers’ success and should be able to figure out how to utilize the young guard alongside James. Reaves has been an important player for the Lakers in James’ absence, and there’s no reason to believe that he won’t continue to contribute to the team’s success moving forward.
Overall, while James’ return might mean changes to the Lakers’ lineup, there is still plenty of talent on the team to secure a playoff spot. Fans can trust in the coaching staff to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that the Lakers continue to compete at a high level.
Austin Reaves teammate LeBron James Decides to Delay Surgery after Seeking Third Opinion from Foot Specialist
Despite a doctor suggesting “season-ending surgery” for his significant tendon injury, LeBron James has decided to finish the season with the Los Angeles Lakers after seeking a third opinion from an unnamed foot specialist. Although he did not start in Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, James led the Lakers with 19 points in the 118-108 loss.
He also revealed that his doctors were impressed with how fast he was healing, stating that he was “healing faster than anybody they’ve seen before with the injury.” James said he sought advice from “the LeBron James of feet” and decided to delay any possible surgery, but did not disclose the doctor’s name.
Austin Reaves has become a fan favorite in Los Angles in the shortest possible time. But with the return of half-fit King LeBron can the new sensation keep up his great performance? Let us know in the comment section.
